Patrick Taylor

I met Patrick in either 2004 or 2005. I was doing shows pretty regular and this dude kept showing up with a camera and taking pictures. I was stoked because he would send some to Saint's myspace every now and then. I met Patrick through Dusty Neal, and it was pretty much one those moments where you realize "welp I'm just friends with this dude" As I've stated before I can be kind of a jerk so it was kind of weird that I was stoked on meeting someone new and not being my normal self.

Unfortunately when Patrick and I started becoming really good friends he moved to NYC to work on his masters degree at parsons. This is the trait I admire most about Patrick. He's literally afraid of nothing. Im a huge pansy and would never be able to pack up my life and start again in a city that I knew no one. But for some reason Patrick is able to do this without a problem. It's super amazing and inspiring. There have been numerous times in my life when I have been bummed out and just thought about how strong my friends are and the moves they are making in life and its given me the strength to accomplish a lot of my goals. 

                                

Although Patrick moved away our friendship has never changed. We talk several times almost every week and it always leaves me feeling stoked about my life. The distance perplexes me sometimes because I have had friends that I thought that I was close to move smaller distances and we drift apart. Patrick is way awesome in being an active friend and just loves everything in life. He knows about a lot of sweet and cool shit. And even being a total new jack with a lot of stuff my self he's never talked down or made me feel like an idiot if I ask him about things. He just gets stoked that you are into sweet shit. This is super rare to come by when people are as educated and involved in the things that Patrick gets to live daily. Throught the time he's lived in NYC he still comes back to visit and I get way stoked everytime. Its like an unannounced holiday and we just hangout like were in junior high and rage for the few days he's here like he never left. Its the best and worst feeling at the same time but I look forward to everytime it happens and the times it will happen. Honestly, it makes me feel like I'm 19 again and don't give a shit about anything and it's way awesome to be able to care about nothing but your friends for a few days and makes you realize how important that aspect of life is. Patrick I hope you still come and visit me when we're 50 and just not give a shit for a few days.

Lastly Patrick is one of the most hardest working dudes I know. I know I've said that about the last two blogs that I wrote, but maybe you can understand why I felt I should do this. All of my friends are amazing in all the aspects of their lives. Patrick is making moves right now that blow my mind. He is constantly learning and seeking to work with people that are on level that I can barely comprehend. Somehow this doesn't get to his head and he is still the most chill and down to earth dude I've ever met. Patrick you're my dude my guy, thanks for always being a sweet dude that doesn't give a shit about anything that doesn't matter. Thanks for always pushing me through your actions and encouraging me with your words even though I can be the biggest new jack idiot about the stuff you know most about. 

MY FRIENDS OVER YOU!

TONY

Nick Clate, Nate, Clack, Nate Click

Before I start to tell you about how awesome Nate is and how you should be terribly jealous that he's not your best friend, I have to pre-date this blog about five years. I hated Nate for the longest time. I mean "I fucking hated him"

Back in the Anchor Basement days if he came to shows I'd watch him and his friends and basically be a total asshole and throw them out for any they did, and on numerous occasions I'd call Nate and the end of the show and just yell at him on the phone just to make him feel bad. It was at the pinnacle of my asshole period and I still feel like shit about it till this day. One instance that we still joke about is when I told Nate that he was "Everything wrong with hardcore and the reason why places get shut down. Don't come to Fort Wayne, Don't act like we're cool".

But aside from me being a total jerk Nate Still became my best friend.

Now I've never had a brother and I am fortunate enough to have several friends with which I was able to form that type of bond with. No-homo but for some reason Nate and I's friendship is on another level. Our girlfriends have made comments that we aren't friends but rather we are dating. Some people may say it's gay or whatnot but to me I've never been more thankful.

Nate has my back no matter what. I mean I have done shit or said shit that has pissed off mutual friends or complete strangers and no matter who they are to Nate he'll stick up for me. That type of loyalty doesn't come into anyones life very often so for that I'll always be grateful. Nate and I both know things about each other that we'd never tell another soul and he has heard my darkest secrets and shit that I am totally ashamed of and never judges me or treats me any different.

Nate's just all around the most talented dude I've ever met. Now I have a lot of friends who are super talented in one area or are super smart, but Nate is good at so many things it blows my mind. Somehow he has time to be an awesome, artist, tattooist, musician, and athlete. I don't know how his brain handles the amount of shit he knows how to do. At 18 he knew he wanted to be a tattooist and set his sights on that. At 18 I didn't know shit from piss and was eating my own farts. I've always been jealous of his determination and wish it was a trait I had more of in my life.

Aside from being super talented Nate is also one of the most generous friends I have. I have seen him pay everyone's way into places or numerous times, buy someones meal, and lend money to friends without thinking twice. I hear about these instances second hand most times and I get so stoked that he values his friends that it's no big deal to drop a good deal of money to help someone out. Nate is also super generous with time. Whenever someone is down or going through something Nate is always down to hang. Even though he has a strict 10'oclock bed time, he'll hangout all night to try and cheer some up. I can't even count the number of people/bands that have stayed,lived with, or just plain mooched off Nate over the years. And even with a bunch of negative experiences he doesn't show any sign of changing this behavior. Lastly Nate is generous with his art. I can't count the amount of free or cheap tattoos that he has done on me. It would be impossible to count those on other people.

Nate thanks for always being my best dude, regardless of how shitty, flakey or moody I can be. You'll always be a person I look up to and even though everyone gives you shit for being you, you're one of the most solid and awesome dudes. I know.

MY FRIENDS OVER YOU

TONY